Reply With QuoteVery subjective. Kind of like trying to herd cats.
Just out of curiosity, what is the best suspension kit/set-up on an NA?
If price were no object, and money grew on trees...
Very subjective. Kind of like trying to herd cats.
Last edited by Radio-Active; 12-10-2010 at 08:45 PM.
05 MX-5 Mazdaspeed #1024 Titanium Gray Mica
Well, post your opinion.Originally Posted by Radio-Active
I would probably go with the Tein Mono Flex coilovers.
05 MX-5 Mazdaspeed #1024 Titanium Gray Mica
Interesting...
I love my ASTs. Excellent performance on the track/course with livable comfort on the street.
No reason to buy anything from 949racing when AST and Vorshlag are local of DFW. I really like the AST single adjustable setup on jrj512's car.
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
I have no personal experience with either, but the topic came up over beer a few weeks ago. A Miata owner with ASTs was talking about how great they were, and I asked him how he thought they compared to the XIDA. He said that he suspected that the XIDA was probably a hair better but he wouldn't lose any sleep over it (or something to that effect). One thing is for sure, both are miles better than what I have.
And yes, local support should give the XIDA extra points.
AST's. Hands down.
The first week we put AST 5100's on jeff_man's car, I ran a 1:58.14 at TWS CW on my first time driving his 99 miata, with a passenger. The car is as smooth as stock on the street with 800/500 spring rates. The valving is magical.
To put it into perspective, jeff's car was only good for a 1:29.xx on stock Tein Flex at Hallett this year. I fully expect to run a 1:26.99 or better next year.
Thomas, you should share your experience with the 4100's on your car and the difference in lap times from just swapping to the shocks.
Mr. BRG will chime in shortly....
I've driven Jrj512's car and the AST shocks are fine.
But I prefer my Koni 2812 setup and delrin bushings.
I'd like to try those 2812's.I've driven Jrj512's car and the AST shocks are fine.
But I prefer my Koni 2812 setup and delrin bushings.
I enjoy my JRZ monotube singles . . . I'd really like to try JRZ monotube doubles/triples/quads with the 22 mm shaft, but 4-10K for shocks is kind of out there.
What did your JRZ's cost? I'd like to check out your car and drive on them.
It was ~2100 for shocks and tophats shipped (that includes extra charges for 2.25 inch perches and for custom front top hats for the NB)
Add about ~250 for hypercos and about ~40 for bumpstops and packers
Shortly after that, I think JRZ forced Mike to up the posted price. They are currently listed at 525 a piece, which would make the set another ~400 dollars more if Mike sticks to the listed price.
Come out to an autox in the spring and you can co-drive.
949 and AST-USA have an interesting relationship, it's probably worth a phone call if you're interested but the Xida/949 shocks are different from the 5100's in several ways.
I have 5100's and passionately in love with them. I cut over 2-seconds off at Hallett going from the Flex.
I wish I had video from last weekend when I was playing with the Evo's, Spec Boxsters, Vettes, and other cars from the "instructor group" (read: good drivers that know the track). I was turning in significantly earlier, holding more apex speed through the corner and most notable had no problems braking over the wash-boards at ECR. I didn't cut time off my lap at Hallett until I learned to turn the car in earlier, nor did I make the rationalization on this until I got home..hey, I'm a layman learning to drive a fast car here. I predict 1:26's in my car at Hallett this year which is a country mile faster than the 1:30's I was turning on Flex and the only thing I've changed is suspension, and for the record I have 70+ hours at that track so it's not a case of discovery in my opinion.
When I watch my Hallett vid I notice that next year I'll turn-in significantly earlier in 6 and 10, and if I ever man up turns 7-8 are now a "no lift" pair of corners...but I'm not man enough for that.
I think that was me. The Xida have slight valving hardware type changes that I don't understand, the Xida single adjustments if for compression and rebound (rebound only on my 5100's), and the spherical mounts are different 949 making their own mount in the future.
I agree that local support is huge, it came in handy when I broke a perch bolt a couple weeks ago and will come in handy in a few years when I get them revalved.
TXMC: Drinkin, shootin, racin!
Drove Hollis's (now Bellamy's) STS car on similar race Konis (not sure exactly which model) back to back with Jerrett's car on Hollis's test course. I really couldn't feel a big difference in the two. Didn't see a big difference in performance, but I don't think I could stand dealing with those adjustment knobs on a regular basis. They were a pain.
I'm running a set of AST 4100s on my R32 right now and have had great results with them. I'm running about a 1:26 at MSR 1.7CCW and 2:07 at ECR in a 3400 lb FWD based car with just ASTs and a good set of street tires (Hankook RS3s). The car still has the stock airbox with a paper filter and the stock exhaust. :)
Thomas
V-to-the-Dub
The Hollis/Bellamy car and my own were on nearly identical suspensions. The biggest suspension difference between Jerrett's car and my own was the bushings. I had swapped my car to Delrin and it made a huge difference over the polyurethane I was using - which was also much better than the rubber bushings in it previously. On the knobs - I used them to tune the car, not adjust it for local conditions. It took about two hours of runs during a practice event every time we switched spring rates or changed to a different tire.
Moton, penske any of the big boys.
AST is small time:
http://www.grand-am.com/news/index.c...=229&cid=39084
TXMC: Drinkin, shootin, racin!
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